15 July 2013

Is Religion Necessary?

I grew up in church. I almost cannot remember a time, before I went to college, when I was not in church. However, as I've gotten older, I have found that I have no desire or inclination to go to church. Given that there are so many things to be skeptical about regarding the bible, religion (in general) and the church, I just refuse to go to a place that I'm not sure is good for my self-esteem.

My mother, on the other hand, goes to church six days per week. Last year, when my car was stolen, I made a promise to my mom that I'd attend church every Sunday if I was able to purchase my first car without needing a co-signer. Once I signed those papers for my car, my mom started reminding me of my promise. Though I had every intention of going to church, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Recently, my tolerance with the church has gotten very low, especially with the new law allowing same-sex marriages. Right after the law passed, I saw someone post a Facebook update stating, “Today is a sad day for the Christian community due to the hedonistic direction that the world is heading.” She included a few bible verses after that statement, but I had to de-friend her.

Are religion and attending church really necessary for a happy, fulfilling life? I'd say no, because I feel like there are too many rules to them both. To be a member of a religion, you have to adhere to certain standards. In attending church, you have an obligation to give tithes and offering “because the bible says so.” For me, that's not enough. I feel like giving to charity should be equivalent to giving tithes. Finding inner peace can come from other means besides attending church and reading the bible, like meditation.